811.5241/73
The Secretary of State to the British Ambassador (Geddes)
Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of March 1, 1920 [1921], in which you informed this Government that the Government of the Dominion of Canada desires to adhere to the Convention with regard to the tenure and disposition of real and personal property concluded by Great Britain and the United States on March 2, 1899, and in which you suggested that the necessary steps be taken to prepare for signature a supplementary convention which will give effect to the wish of the Canadian Government.
I have the honor to enclose for the consideration of your Government a draft of a supplementary convention13 which provides for the adherence of the Dominion of Canada to the Convention of 1899. The effect of such a convention would be to give to the Dominion of Canada the same right to adhere to the Convention of 1899 as was [Page 298] accorded by that treaty to all British colonies and possessions. The draft convention fixes a period of one year from the date of the exchange of ratifications within which adherence may be given by Canada.
I should be grateful if your Government would consider the enclosed draft and inform me of their views with respect thereto. A convention could doubtless be concluded which by its terms would effect the adherence of the Dominion of Canada to the Convention of 1899 at once on the exchange of ratifications of the supplementary convention rather than by a subsequent act of adherence. If that procedure is deemed desirable by your Government, I should be glad if they would submit a draft of such a convention.
Accept [etc.]
- Not printed.↩